Hollow wall structure

ABSTRACT

A hollow wall structure utilizing wall panels having slits in opposite vertical edges which slidably receive channel shaped margins of elongated fastener strips; each fastener strip having a series of spaced pairs of clip elements, the members of each pair facing in opposite directions and so arranged that the clip elements facing in the same direction may be raised or lowered to register with a corresponding series of slots provided in a channel shaped wall stud then lowered to engage the wall stud and lock the panel in place; the upper ends of the studs being mounted in a header having downwardly open marginal slots which slidably receive the upper ends of the panels. Any selected panel being removable by inserting a blade between the selected panel and adjacent panels to engage each fastener strip of the selected panel and slide its clip elements clear of the stud slots.

United States Patent Yohe Aug. 26, 1975 HOLLOW WALL STRUCTURE PrimaryExaminer-Ernest R. Purser [76] Inventor: Dale Yohe, P.O. Box 54132, LosAsslsmm Exammercarl Friedman Angeles, Calif. 90054 Attorney, Agent, orF1rmLy0n & Lyon [22] Filed: Apr. 18, 1974 57 ABSTRACT pp ,919 A hollowwall structure utilizing wall panels having Related US Application Dataslits in opposite vertical edges which slidably receive C I t f S N 364052 M 2s channel shaped margins of elongated fastener strips; l9 ;;aii deh:g 0 er Q each fastener strip having a series of spaced pairs of clipelements, the members of each pair facing in op- 52 us. Cl. 52/241;52/489; 52/492 f i and so arlangfad the 9. 2 ments facing in the samedirection may be ralsed or 51 Int. Cl. E04B 2/78 lowered to registerwith a Corresponding Series of Slots [58] Field of Search 52/36, 489,495, 241, 498, d h l h d H d h l d 52/496 476 492 provl e 1n a 0 anne sape wa stu t en owere to engage the wall stud and lock the panel inplace; References Cited the upper ends of the studs being mounted n aheader having downwardly open marginal slots which slidably UNITEDSTATES PATENTS receive the upper ends of the panels. Any selected 2,94.413 8/ 1 Le y Ct 1 52/439 X panel being removable by inserting ablade between 3-412-515 11/1968 Fl'non 52/496 X the selected panel andadjacent panels to engage each fastener strip of the selected panel andslide its clip ela in e a 3,732,660 5/1973 Byssing 52/498 X ements Clearof the stud slots 8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures HOLLOW WALL STRUCTURE ThisApplication is a continuationin-part of application Ser. No. 364,053filed May 25, 1973 entitled HOLLOW WALL STRUCTURE, now abandoned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a hollow wallstructure and is summarized in the following objects:

First, to provide a hollow wall structure which is particularly suitedfor the construction of hollow partition walls that may be laterdisassembled and relocated, the structure involving a minimum number ofeasily assembled or disassembled parts.

Second, to provide a hollow wall structure including novely arrangedfastener strips and cooperating wall studs, the fastener strips havingmeans for slidable attachment to the margins of wall panels and alsohaving mounting clips arranged to be received in slots provided in thewall studs whereupon the fastener strips and their mounting clip may bemoved so as to secure the wall panels to the studs.

Third, to provide a hollow wall structure as indicated in the preceedingobject wherein a selected panel may be removed by inserting a blade toengage each of its fastener strips to slide the fastener strips andtheir mounting clips to clear the slots in the corresponding studs.

Fourth, to provide a hollow wall structure as indicated in thepreceeding object which includes a novel header construction havingdownwardly facing retainer channels for receiving the upper margins ofthe panels as well as permitting limited vertical displacement of aselected panel in the course of fitting the panel in place or removingthe panel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view of thehollow wall structure with portions broken away to illustrate theinternal construction.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side view taken within circle 2 ofFIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged vertical fragmentary sectional views takenthrough 33 and 4-4 respectively, of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged horizontal fragmentary sectional view takenthrough 55 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side view of a pair of panels indicating insection a blade inserted for manipulation of a fastener strip.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through 77 of FIG. 5showing the manipulating blade for a fastener strip.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through 88 ofFIG. 1.

The hollow wall structure utilizes conventional wall panels 1 which areusually formed of gypsum board and are provided with edge grooves orslits 2 in their opposite vertical side margins. The panel is preferablythe width between wall studs which are usually spaced 24 inches oncenter, however, the width may vary or may be doubled or tripled to spanseveral wall studs.

The vertical margins of the wall panels slidably receive fastener strips3. Each fastener strip includes a channel margin 4 including a flange 5which is adapted to fit ina slit'2 of a wall panel 1. Each fastenerstrip preferably extends almost the length of the wall panel andincludes a second flange or laterally extended portion 6 which fitscontiguous to the margin of the wall panel.

Each fastener strip 3 is provided in the laterally extended portion 6with a series of vertically spaced sets of clip elements 7. Each set ofclip elements comprises two clip elements which are formed by a pair ofU- shaped slits 8 extending in opposite directions, one slit extendingupwardly, the other slit extending downwardly. The material within eachslit is pressed from the normal plane of the laterally extended portion6 to form an offset portion 9. Extending from the offset portion is anoffset tongue 10 which extends essentially parallel to the portion 6 orin slight angular relation thereto.

A plurality of wall studs 11 are provided which are channel shaped incross section. Each wall stud includes a web 12 joined to mounting sidesor flanges 13 having inturned reinforcing extremities 14. Each mountingside 13 is provided with a vertical series of slots 15. Each slot isdimensioned to receive a set of clip elements 7 causing the laterallyextended portion 6 to occupy a position contiguous to the mounting side13. Thereupon the fastener strip 3 may be moved longitudinally relativeto the panel 1 and the wall stud 11 to cause the tongue 10 of eitherclip element 7 to engage a margin of the slot 15.

The wall studs 11 are received in a bottom channel 16 between upwardlyextending side flanges 17. The bottom channel is suitably secured to anunderlying floor preferably by conventional fastener means not shown andwhich may be removed. Similar conventional fastener means join the lowerends of the wall studs to the bottom channel or the wall studs may bemerely set in place, that is, wedged between the side flanges 17 or thewall studs may be spot welded to the flanges 17.

Fastened to the ceiling in vertical alignment with the bottom channel 16is a header assembly 18 which comprises outer channel 19 including a web20 and depending side flanges .21. Secured within the outer channel 19such as by spot welding is an inner channel 22 having a web 23 and sideflanges 24. The side flanges 24 are spaced inwardly from the sideflanges 21, a sufficient distance to receive the upper margins of wallpanels 1. Also the side flanges 24 have a greater vertical depth thanthe side flanges 21, and preferably include diverging portions 25.

Installation of the hollow wall structure is as follows:

The bottom channels 16 and the header assembly are placed in verticalalignment. The wall studs which have pairs of slots at each side arespaced center to center the same distance as the width of the wallpanels 1. Each wall panel slidably receives a pair of fastener strips 3.The panel is tilted so that its upper end may be inserted between theflanges 21 and 24, and moved upwardly therebetween as the panel isbrought into contiguous relation to the stud l1 separated therefrom bythe fastener strips 3. The fastener strips are moved upwardly ordownwardly to bring the clip elements 7 into registery with the slots15. The fastener strips 3 may then be moved downwardly, preferably, orupwardly to cause one of the clip elements of each pair to slip over anend of the corresponding slot 15 as shown in FIG. 3.

The side flanges 21 and 24 extend downward a sufficient distance toretain the upper margin of the wall panel after engagement of the clipelements 7 with the lower margins of the slot 15. The diverging portions25 facilitate reception of the upper margin of the panel when held in anangular position permitting the side margins of the panel to be grasped.Also an angle blade, not shown, may be used as a tool engaging the lowerend of the panel for the purpose of raising the panel and then controllowering the panel while the fastener strips 3 are pressed against themounting sides 13 of the wall studs 11.

The panels 1 are spaced from each other a slight distance equal to thethickness of the metal forming a pair of fastener strips 3. This spacecan receive a blade 26 equal in width to the metal thickness of afastener strip. By inserting a blade 26 between a pair of panels below afastener strip 3, the engaged strip may be raised to disconnect its clipelements 7 from the slots of the corresponding stud. Similarly, byinserting the blade 26 above a fastener strip, the fastener strip may bepressed downward to cause its clip elements 7 to engage the slots 15 ofthe corresponding stud 11.

The fastener strips 3 are sufficiently shorter than the panels 1 toprovide space for insertion of the blades 26 below or above the fastenerstrips. Because the fastener strips are movable relative to theirpanels, corresponding slots 15 of the different studs need not be at thesame levels. Also, because of the slidable nature of the fastener stripsthe panels may be readily aligned as they are set in place, withoutdisturbing the interconnection between fastener strips 3 and studs 11.

While for purposes of illustration, a vertical wall partition isdisclosed, the structure may form a horizontal wall or ceiling, the wallstuds serving as ceiling joists.

While I have fully described my invention it is to be understood that Iam not to be limited to the details herein set forth, but that myinvention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A partition wall structure comprising a plurality of panel membershaving longitudinal slits in the edges of their side margins andmounting means therefor, said mounting neabs comprising:

a. an upwardly open bottom channel member;

b. inner and outer top channel members, forming a spaced pair ofchannels receiving the upper margins of panel members;

c. a plurality of vertically disposed wall studs, their extremitiesfitted in the bottom channel member and the inner top channel member;

d. each wall stud including opposed vertically extending mounting sides,each mounting side having a vertically spaced series of clip elementreceiving slots opening toward said panels;

e. a plurality of elongated channel-shaped retainer strips eachincluding a channel margin having a first flange slidably fitting anedge slit of a panel member, a web overlying the edge of the panelmember inwardly of the slit, and a second flange confronting the marginof the panel member at its inner side facing said mounting sides of saidstuds;

f. the second flange of each retainer strip including a series of clipelements spaced in correspondence to the wall stud slots, and engagedwith corre' sponding end margins of the series of wall stud slots 7whereby upon sliding movement of the retainer strip relative to both thewall stud and the panel member said clip elements may be engaged with ordisengaged from the margins of said slots.

2. A partition wall as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. the webs of the retainer strips received by adjacent panels are inconfronting relation and individually accessible to effect longitudinalmovement of the corresponding retainer strip for engagement ordisengagement with a corresponding wall stud to permit individualmounting or removal of a panel member.

3. A partition wall as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. the wall studs are slidable along said channels to align their slotswith the corresponding clip elements.

4. A partition wall as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. the clip elements of each retainer strip are arranged in pairsextending in opposite directions, and the slots in the wall studs areeach of sufficient length to receive a pair of clip elements, wherebythe retainer strips at opposite sides of a panel may be moved in eitherdirection for engagement with or disengagement from the slots of thewall studs.

5. A partition wall structure having a rectangular panel member havingan outer side, an inner side and, a longitudinal slit in a vertical edgethereof, panel mounting means, comprising:

a. a. an elongated channel shaped retainer strip including a firstflange, a second flange and a connecting web, the retainer strip beingcarried by the slitted vertical edge of the panel with the first flangebeing longitudinally slidable in the slit, the web overlying the edgeportion inwardly from the slit, and the second flange overlying thecorresponding margin of the inner side of the panel;

b. the second flange having a set of clips offset inwardly from thepanel and extending longitudinally of the retainer strip;

c. and a wall stud including a side confronting the second flange, saidside having a set of slots for receiving simultaneously the set ofclips;

d. each retainer strip being of shorter length than the panel and theweb being engageable to slide the retainer strip longitudinally withrespect to boththe wall stud and the panel to cause simultaneousengagement of the clips with the wall stud at corresponding ends of thewall stud slots.

6. A partition wall as defined in claim 5, wherein:

a. said side of said wall stud is provided with two sets of slotsreceiving the clips of a pair of retainer strips fitted along themargins of a pair of adjacent panels, with the webs of the retainerstrips in abutting relation;

b. said webs being accessible from the outer sides of the panels forindividual sliding movement of the retainer strips to secure or releasethe corresponding panel.

7. A partition wall as defined in claim 6, which further comprises:

a. a header assembly receiving the upper ends of a plurality of wallstuds and forming a downwardly directed channel receiving the uppermargins of an initially tilted panel upwardly inserted therein as thepanel was moved into position for engagement with corresponding wallstuds.

8. A partition wall as defined in claim 5, wherein:

a. the retainer strip is provided with two sets of clips arranged inpairs facing in opposite directions and the wall stud slots are each ofa length to receive a pair of clips whereby each retainer strip may bedisposed with either end uppermost and may be moved longitudinallydownwardly or upwardly to effect locking engagement with the wall stud.

1. A partition wall structure comprising a plurality of panel membershaving longitudinal slits in the edges of their side margins andmounting means therefor, said mounting neabs comprising: a. an upwardlyopen bottom channel member; b. inner and outer top channel members,forming a spaced pair of channels receiving the upper margins of panelmembers; c. a plurality of vertically disposed wall studs, theirextremities fitted in the bottom channel member and the inner topchannel member; d. each wall stud including opposed vertically extendingmounting sides, each mounting side having a vertically spaced series ofclip element receiving slots opening toward said panels; e. a pluralityof elongated channel-shaped retainer strips each including a channelmargin having a first flange slidably fitting an edge slit of a panelmember, a web overlying the edge of the panel member inwardly of theslit, and a second flange confronting the margin of the panel member atits inner side facing said mounting sides of said studs; f. the secondflange of each retainer strip including a series of clip elements spacedin correspondence to the wall stud slots, and engaged with correspondingend margins of the series of wall stud slots whereby upon slidingmovement of the retainer strip relative to both the wall stud and thepanel member said clip elements may be engaged with or disengaged fromthe margins of said slots.
 2. A partition wall as defined in claim 1,wherein: a. the webs of the retainer strips received by adjacent panelsare in confronting relation and individually accessible to effectlongitudinal movement of the corresponding retainer strip for engagementor disengagement with a corresponding wall stud to permit individualmounting or removal of a panel member.
 3. A partition wall as defined inclaim 1, wherein: a. the wall studs are slidable along said channels toalign their slots with the corresponding clip elements.
 4. A partitionwall as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. the clip elements of eachretainer strip are arranged in pairs exteNding in opposite directions,and the slots in the wall studs are each of sufficient length to receivea pair of clip elements, whereby the retainer strips at opposite sidesof a panel may be moved in either direction for engagement with ordisengagement from the slots of the wall studs.
 5. A partition wallstructure having a rectangular panel member having an outer side, aninner side and, a longitudinal slit in a vertical edge thereof, panelmounting means, comprising: a. a. an elongated channel shaped retainerstrip including a first flange, a second flange and a connecting web,the retainer strip being carried by the slitted vertical edge of thepanel with the first flange being longitudinally slidable in the slit,the web overlying the edge portion inwardly from the slit, and thesecond flange overlying the corresponding margin of the inner side ofthe panel; b. the second flange having a set of clips offset inwardlyfrom the panel and extending longitudinally of the retainer strip; c.and a wall stud including a side confronting the second flange, saidside having a set of slots for receiving simultaneously the set ofclips; d. each retainer strip being of shorter length than the panel andthe web being engageable to slide the retainer strip longitudinally withrespect to both the wall stud and the panel to cause simultaneousengagement of the clips with the wall stud at corresponding ends of thewall stud slots.
 6. A partition wall as defined in claim 5, wherein: a.said side of said wall stud is provided with two sets of slots receivingthe clips of a pair of retainer strips fitted along the margins of apair of adjacent panels, with the webs of the retainer strips inabutting relation; b. said webs being accessible from the outer sides ofthe panels for individual sliding movement of the retainer strips tosecure or release the corresponding panel.
 7. A partition wall asdefined in claim 6, which further comprises: a. a header assemblyreceiving the upper ends of a plurality of wall studs and forming adownwardly directed channel receiving the upper margins of an initiallytilted panel upwardly inserted therein as the panel was moved intoposition for engagement with corresponding wall studs.
 8. A partitionwall as defined in claim 5, wherein: a. the retainer strip is providedwith two sets of clips arranged in pairs facing in opposite directionsand the wall stud slots are each of a length to receive a pair of clipswhereby each retainer strip may be disposed with either end uppermostand may be moved longitudinally downwardly or upwardly to effect lockingengagement with the wall stud.